Daz was 20% below is ideal body weight

A Lower Hutt man who intentionally starved his dog ‘to teach it a lesson’, could have been facing a much stiffer penalty if proposed amendments to the Animal Welfare Act had already been in force. 

Paulie Tamati Patu of Naenae was convicted last week after pleading guilty to intentionally restricting the amount of food he gave his dog, Daz, as punishment for chasing a cat. Daz was examined by a vet and found to be 20% below the minimum recommended weight for his breed, age and sex.

After just three weeks in the care of Wellington SPCA, he had returned to his ideal weight.

Daz following just 20 days of treatment

Mr Patu was sentenced to 200 hours community service, ordered to pay costs to the SPCA of $2,704 and was disqualified from owning a companion animal for 10 years. The judge also forfeited Daz into the care of Wellington SPCA.

Greater penalty

The proposed amendments to the Act would see an increase in the maximum sentence for the ‘wilful ill-treatment’ of an animal from three to five years imprisonment, along with a doubling of a fine to a maximum of $100,000.

“While we are pleased with the outcome of this particular case, we hope that the proposed changes will lead to much stronger sentences being handed down to those convicted of cruelty to animals in the future”  Peter Mason, Wellington SPCA’s Executive Director.